Method of and apparatus for coating wires and the like



June 24, 1924. 1,498,738

J. E, G. LAHOUSSE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COATING WIRES AND THE LIKE Filed Ana. :0. 1921' a a o n o a n o n 0 o n a I I H II By M 4 M JOSEPH nnouann eus'ravn nanous'snor Tammy, ISERE, amen, assrenon To 1 SOCIETE OHIMIQUE DES USINES no RHONE, or; PARIS, summon.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CbATING WIRES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 30, 1921. Serial No. 496,878.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPIL EDOUARD GUSTAVE LAHOUSSE, of Ternay, Isere, France, a citizen of the Republic of France, 6 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Coating WVires and the like, of which a the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of,-

l is thence led through a tube the internal diameter of which exceeds the gauge of the filament. The length and bore of the tube are each chosen according to the thickness of the desired coating and the natureand the viscosity of the liquefied coating substance or of its-solution. v When'using certain substances it may be advantageous to widen the inlet mouth of the tube to a slightly funnel shape so as to' facilitate the .carrymg 01f of the viscous liqliid,

uring its forward progress, the wire carries off with it the liquid intended for the coating and in so doing fills the tube,

tion in the tube brings about perfect evenness in the coating, care must naturally be tagen that the wire is kept centrally in the tu e. The coated wire as it is about to leave the tube no longer completely fills it, the less so the greater the speed with-which the wire is drawn through. By va ing the speed the same tube can be there ore used for wires of different diameters.

' The object of the tube is to gauge off ithe coating mass freely carried off by the wire, whereas in known apparatus for coating with india-rubber the wire' and the mass are forced forward and through a gauging nozzle independently of one another.

The method permits ,of the-use of highly viscous liquids and thus realizes an economy in solvents; with this 'method' rapid drying is attained and a wire can for example or at least the first ortion thereof; the frie ment.

which the wire passes through a fine openbe coated in. a single pass with a layerof acetate of cellulose sufficient for insulating purposes, The coating is completely dry at a few metres from the point of exit so that the wire can be rolled up, if the heating and ventilation of the chamber is done with care. The recovering of the solvent is considerably facilitated thereby.

The advantages of the method disclosed I are obvious, when compared with known methods according to which a wire is drawn freely through a solution; in this case a diluted, slightly-,viscous solution only can be used, as otherwise the solvent would be carried off in too large a quantity whereby rapid drying and evenness in the coating will be prevented; it' follows that the drawing through these diluted solutions must be repeated 5 or 6 times in order to attain the desired thickness. When the resins which are generally used are replaced by acetate of cellulose, fresh difliculties arise when employing the old process, for if diluted solutions be used, the solution remains hanging on the wire in the form of small drops, while on the other hand, if concentrated solutions be used the excess of liquid must be checked by scrapers, operation which can take place only in an irregular manner. One isv obliged to repeat the procedure several times in order to cover .up and rectify. the defects of the one layer i by a fresh coating. Moreover, if a volatile solvent be used in.

the-old process the outlet mouth of the tube 0 I 'becomescemented up immediately the movement of the wire ceases, if only for a mo- The carrying off of thecoating would therefore be prevented and the wire, upon again entering .into movement, would come out naked. In order to obviate this drawback it is advantageous to' fitthe outlet mouth of -;thetube within a small closed chamber out of ing, the wallsof which moreover should not touch the wire; this closed chamber thus re-. mains saturated with vapours from the solvent. A small container filled with solvent can also be arranged in this chamber and 106 thus enable the drawing of a wire to be interrupted during a longer period without obstruction being set up.

Referring to the drawing filed herewith,

illustrating one particulararrangement of no in vapours and which permits the tube conbe coated.

the apparatus designed according to 'this invention: u y a is a loose spool tosupport the wire to b an apparatus of a known type forstraightening the Wire.

cthe container for the coating fluid.

d a tube. I

e is a sleeve made of ,flexible material which represents the chamber saturated with nected therewith to be centered by means of an adjusting device.

f is a pipe in which the coated wire is dried by warm air; this can be efiected electrically or otherwise. The air charged with the vapour of the solvent is withdrawn through 9 for thepurpose of recovering the latter.

h is a roller the groove in' which corresponds with the diameter of the wire.

2' is a spool upon which the coated wire is rolled. 5 1

The rotation of this spool by mechanical means results in the drawing ofthe wire through the whole system.

7c is a plug hich closes the vapour saturated chambe with the exception of a fine opening. i The apparatus as, a wholemust be so an ranged that the wire can easily be renewed, it must also at all points be easily, accessi ble-so as to allow of repairing without difficulty in case of accidental breaking.

The bore of the tube must be so chosen that thickened portions of the wire, where I it has been repaired or knotted, will also pass through without stoppage.

The method is not restricted to the use of volatile solvents. It is applicable to all substances which can in any manner whatsoever beliquefied. For example liquefaction may be effected, by heat; hardening then follows by cooling during the outward passage through the pipe. In this case devices for the heating and the cooling must be provided. The liquid employed. for coating can also be transformed into a hard mass b means of the action of liquids or gases. l lhen employing a solution, the solvent need not necessarily be removed by" evaporation as in the example set forth. It can just as well be removed by causing the coated wire topass through a suitable liquid.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A process for coating wires, filaments weaves or the like, whichconsists in passing the wire through. a liquefied coating substance while maintaining said wire out of contact with any apparatus parts from the moment it enters the said coating substance until the coating on the -Wireis dry, and then passing the wire through a gauge tube, the thickness of the coating being're lated by the bore of said gauge tube an the speed ,of the wire. a

a 2. An apparatus for coating wires, fila-' any contact with any part of the apparatus;

3. 'An apparatus for coating wires, filaments and the like, comprising a container for a liquefied coating substance, a gauge tube ofsuitable diameter-the inlet of which is funnel shaped, a vapor'chamber and a drying tube co-axially adjustable with said tube, and means external to the apparatus for guiding the object to be coated centrally through the gauge tube, vapor chamber and drying tube without allowing any contact with any part of the apparatus.

4. An apparatus for coating wires, filafments and the like, comprising a container able with said tube, and means external to the apparatus for guiding the object to be coated centrally through the gauge tube, vapor chamber and drying tube without alllowing any contact with any part of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof l} have signed my name to this specification.

JGSEIPH EDQYUAIRD (GUST/WE MHGJUSSIE;

Elli) 

